Leather evening and grading machine.



E. P. NICHOLS.

LEATHER EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE.

" APPLICATION FILED FBB.27,1908..

Patented Mar. 25, 1913. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l E. P. NICHOLS. LEATHER `FVENING AND GRADING MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED FEB.27, 1908.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,Pavan-'302m' EZNWLW E. P'. NICHOLS.

LEATHER BVENANG AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.27,1908`.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

5 SHEETS--SHBET 3.

, E. P. NIGHOLS. 1 LEATHER EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 27,v 1908 Patented Mar. `25, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

E. P. NICHOLS.

LEATHER EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE.

' APPLIOATLON FILED 11:13.27, 190s,

menta@ Mar. 25,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

jaag/210%@ y iiniTTin Tae ieaTnnT onirica ELMER ll?. NICHOLS, 0FMANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNGRO LCENE" MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OFMANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, .t COE'PBIA- TION 0F MAINE.

LEATHER EVENING .AND GRADING MACHINE.

Application led 'February 27, 419108., Serial No. el.

length in my Reissue' Patent No. 12,288 and later Patents No. 841,809and No. 1,009,988.

4The Work required of this kind of machine is exceedingly enacting, assole leather and the like is very costly and therefore it becomesparticularly important that no more leather should be removed'thannecessary and yet that all the uneven leather should be removed so faras necessary to produce' perfect results. In my previous machines it hasbeen found that When run at high speed the momentum of the parts hasoccasioned a liability to make false moves to some extent, and thepressure and movement of certain parts of the machine have tended tocompress soft stocl., resulting in skiving more leather from the stockthan necessary or marking the stock to a thinner grade ythan it shouldbe marked, and also imperfect skiving has occasionally resulted.Accordingly my present machine aims to obviaie all the above mentioneddifficulties and to gain still greater precision of ,movement, accuracyofresults and delicacy `of opciatioi'i` ln the iii-st place in mypresent machine the feeling mechanism or measuring devices operateagainst vthe underside of 'the stock, which is always the uneven side,c., the upper side of the stock on Which the grade mark is stamped isthe grain side and isA usually smooth and flat, Whereas the underside oricsh side contains the ui'ieveniiesses and hence I have arri nged thefeeling mechanisni to engage the 'under side of the stock.

A further reason tfor this, and resulting advatage, is that thereby theWeight of the.

feeler mechanism. istaken ofi' from the stock, so that in case thelatter .isl soft stock there is no tendency to compress the. stockandhence much more delicate and accurate.- results are secured. As furtherconducing to this end, my present mechanism positively liold up veryheavy stock and cause i3 feet results, and 'which in the machine of Lapplicatiori-ffaei'. No. 257,587 filed Japril 2'?, 1905, since becomePatent No. 1,010,213, in the case of soft and light stocks, cause a hardd oi' frietional re "ance top of the stock, compressing tl' i therebyimproperly reducing nach; the moment of feeling or measuring the sameand roughening the flesh side of stock.

My invention'not-only includes the rangement of the feeler mechanism toen gage the under side of the stock, but' a further novel featureconsists of a spring arranged to give perfect balance of feelerengagement. To secure still furti'ier delicacy and accuracy ofnioveinenn invention provides that the movement of the mechanism atthefront of the machine shall be largely independent the nim/'e-` mentat the back of 'the machine, in that the feeler mechanism, i. c., theunder roll, etc.,

are automatically restored to Work-receiving "position as'soon as thework has been meas-- ured, said restoring of these parts beingindependent of the movement of the grading mechanism at the rear end ofthe machine, i. e., the stamp, locking wheel, setting and skivingmechanisms, etc., which are left undisturbed until the work has beengradeinarked and skived, whereupon they also are restored to theiroriginal positions. By this means the nniveinents of the machine aresub-divided, vrelieving vthe rear part of the machine of the strains andWork caused in my previous machines byV the fact that all the partsiveie directly and continuously connected sothat they transmitted andreceived strains throughout the train of mechanisma Forinstance, thestrain produced by the 'tension spring in my last mentioned patent isvdone aivay with in my present machine,

and instead of said-arrangement of spring l have provided thecentralbalancmg spring y"above mentioned, which is now independent .themechanism.

in the sense tliatlit 'does not transmit any strainproducing movement tothe rest of A further important feature of my present invention relatesto the skiving mechanism. Bkiving knives (and this statement holds goodfor `all skiving machines), are apt to draw 'down.theleather and diginto' 1 the stock as the latter is held, against them,

especially'if the knife is set- `too vfar back,

- and accordingly Inhave obviated this tend1 ency by locating -thepressure springs directly under the Work instead of at the ends of thepres'sufrelf'frolla4 By setting these springs ,inl so that vthey comedirectly under the work insteadofunder the journal bear-l ing they ykeepthe pressure rol'l invariably against the stock irrespective of varyingWidths ,of stock, orin other vWords the, 'springs tend to t-ip the rollson arshorter lfulcrum, one spring operating to rock thef roll on theWork against the iniuence ofl the vother spring With such a shortinterveni ingas ace that theI roll is necessarily main` taine inengagement With-the stock.

be moved by momentum farther than it should be, and sometimes tochatteror lmakey pact set of locking parts, whereby practi' callyalllost motion is avoided as compared with my previous machines'. A tableis also provided with long feed guides for compelling successive piecesof stock .to feed in exactly the same path. The regulator which,

regulates the proportionate amount of skivings removed from thelstockfwitli relation tothe Vdeterminations ofthe feeler mechanism, is`located at the front end of the machine Where it is under the direct andinstant control of the operator as he stands feeding the stock tothcmachine, and is made more positive 'than in my previous machines andof such a construction that there is no lost motion'or possibility ofunsteadiness. y

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a preferred embodiment of' myinvention, but as I regard the latter as broadly novel in many of theindividual' respect-s above pointed out, I Wish it understood that,thisis la preferred construe tion only and-that the range of equivalentsclaims, taken in connection With the following description and saiddrawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central,

.longitudinal vertical sectional view of the machine; Figs. 2 and 3 arevertical crosssectionalviews taken respectively ,on the l lilies 2-2 and3-3 Fig. 1; Figfl is a right hand side elevation of 'the machine; Fig. 5is a similar left-hand sideelevation of the 4machine; Fig. 5a is afragnieiitary'view in front elevation of a detail of the clutchmechanism foi-'operating the marker; and

Fig. 'is'a topplan view thereof.

The machine operates on the saine gencral'plan as is more fully set'forth in my above mentioned patents, and, therefore, I will confinemyself herein more direct-ly to the constructional details thereof,Without entering upon al general explanation of t -evening and gradingleather. ,I In my previous machines there has `been-f laftendency forthe stamping mechanism .-to

My object is, as before, to classify the leather pieces automatically inresponse to the determinations of the feeler means, and'v accordinglythese determinations are transmitted to leather-engaging means whichacts upon the leather-pieces to render the grade subsequentlyrecognizable in some deiinite Way, said Way preferably consisting, asbefore, of either stamping'a grade mark on the leather, "or skivingoli'` the surplus leather so as to reduce the piece to the givengrad'esthickness, lor both.

The machine in general consists of muchA the saine parts and generalorganization as my above mentioned patents, particularly No. 1,046,213,said parts liovvevei, being arranged and cordinated quite differently,as previously explained.

in the frame, and the former roll 2 having. its Journals G normallystationary or fixed 'but adjustable at its opposite ends by any suitablemeans, as by threaded boltsl 7, 8,.

Afree lto rotate, butinimo Vable lengthwise, in a frame head 9, saidadjusting bolts having Worm ends 10 their upper ends engaged 'by Worms11 fast on the opposite ends of a transversel angular hand adjustingshaft 12 made angular -to be readily grasped for turning by hand. Thetop roll 2 is preferably plain or smooth, and the bottom roll slightlyMounted in the frame l at Athe ingoing l i at corrugated or scored. Thevertically movable roll 3 which constitutes the main iieelcr heavycentral equalizer spring 1li, capable 'of delicate adjustment by meansof -a bolt 15 operating through a fixed portion 16 ot the main trame ofthe machine, whereby the roll 3 may be given exactly the right pressure,and no more, necessary for accomplishing the most effectivethickness-detecting rcsults. As already pointed out, the arrangement andlocation of the teeler mechanism to lengage the flesh side or bottomside ot the stock instead ot engaging the top as heretofore, may bementioned as the most important feature ot` my invention. rind the nextimportant feature of my invention is ythe equalizer spring 14,locatedcentrally for maintaining the feeler roll 3 in perfect balance as itengages the stock, said centrally mounted spring 14C being independentof Iallthe rest of the mechanism, t'. it is mounted directly on thetrame of the machine and transmits'its pressure directly to the'roll 3,and therefore does not bring any strains orwear upon any portion ot thetrain ot. transmitting mechanism. The latter consists lof dependingteeler-'posts or detectorrods 17, 18 having heads 19 delicatelyadjustable by nuts 2O on the ends of said posts, said posts passingthrough slots' or holes 21 in a relatively heavy transmission lever 22,herein shown aspivotally mounted at 23 in the frame ot the machine.Another species or' this headed feeler-post and lever `arrangement forenabling the vdetecting Inechanism to do its measuring by operating Yagainst the under side or fiesh side ot the .stock as distinguishedfronifthe upper side or grain side ot' the stock is disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 325,224, liled July 9, 1906,'which,however, is restricted to grade marking and does not include theautomatic evening or skiving teature oi" the grading, und hence thebroad or generic claims to said two species are in the present.application. The lever 22 is apertured at 24 tor the `mirestrictedpassage of the .spring 11i and provided at its Jfree end see Fig. 1 witha pivoted depending arm 26 slotted 'at 27 and. normally'engaging at theupper end poi said slot a pin 28 ot' a rocker arm 29 fast on a shaft 30journaled totreely rotate in the 'frame of the machine. lA spring 22Stends always to hold the arm i or crank 29 upward with the pin 28 in theIupper end of the slot ot' the lever 22. F ast on said shaft 30 is awheel 31 and pinion, or rather sector, 32, the former constitutingr partof4 the locking means for locking the gage adjuster mechanism and thelatter engaging a rack 33 whose opposite end 34- serves to rotate apinion 35 which operates the die or grade-marking mechanism and sets theskiving mechanism substantially shown and claimed in my above mentionedPatent No. 1,046,213. 'llie pinion 35 is fast on a shaft 36 providedwith a pinion 37 engaging a rack bar 38 provided with wedges o-rinclines 39 cooperating with opposite inclines or wedges 40 on the uppersides of the journal boxes 41 ot' the gage roll or pressure device i2and acting as stop-means for positively limiting the upward movement otsaid pressure device a2. A spring 43 connected at one end to the bar 38and at the other end to a stationary part prevents back play.

The marking roll or die 44 carries a pinion 45 in mesh with a toothedsector i6 mounted to swing` t'roin a. pivot l? in the cross bar 4S ofthe head 4:9 which carries the marking die or roll, said toothed sectorbeing swung by an arm pivoted ,at 51 to the outer endfoi" the rack 38,and said head raised by a cam 52 engaging a plunger depending` from thecross bar a8., which is held under constant downward tendency by springs54e,- all as in my above mentioned Patent No.. 1,046,213. Thismechanism, however, as just described, has proved in practice .liable toerror, `as the necessarily sudden movements due to the rapid passing ota piece of stock in engagement. with the teeler mechanism has caused theswinging sector 46 and rotary die 4ta to tend to vibra-te or chatter andrebound more or less, so that it has been liable to make vfalse marks,and accordingly I have succeeded in entirely preventing this uncertaintyand liability to error, and vet with-out decreasing the speed ot' themachine and the rapidity of its execution, simply by Fintroducing an oilcheck orl friction retarding device. Any oit' the well known 'lirictionretard'ing` devices may be employed l'or this purpose, my invention. soiar as this detail is concerned, not residing in the kind ot'frictiondevice employed, but in providing means for insuring. that,notwithstuntt' ing the suddenness of positive movement and the resultingmomentum ot the swinging and rotating parts olf the nnxrking mecha`nism, the latter shall stop precisely at the point correspondingto thedetermination ot the feeler mechanism and shall be accurate, definiteand 4certain notwithstanding the delicacy and exceedingly smalldiii'erences of thickness determined and marked. The oil check 55consists otra closed cylinder 56 containing a piston '57 and piston rod-58 whose upper end pivoted at) to the sector 32.

A oularter-iron, halt-iron, and in tact ^even a whole iron or stillcoarser measurement of leather 1s nevertheless such a slight ditterencein thickness (an iron being one forty- -eighth of an inch) that, inorder clearly to to such an extent that, notwithstanding the,

exceedingly slight movement at the feeler mechanism end of the machine,the grade marker will be compelled to move for each increment ofmeasurement a sutliciently great-distance to make certain that thecorrect mark and "no other will be imparted to the leather and notaportion of two marks' or possibly of three marks, and this taken inconnection with the p'racticalnecessity of running my machine atvhighspeed in order to accomplish 'the work which is required of it accordingtothe `usual shoe 'factory practice, and the necessarily strong andtherefore somewhat heavy construction of the movable parts, originallymade it exceedingly diliticult to obtain accuracy of marking, asincorrectnes's would result at times in apparently inexplicable ways,which proved practically insurmountable until @l discovered that these.errors` were due, not to incorrectness of mechanism, but mainly to thegive or yield and spring or' the metal lunder the exceedingly suddenstarting and stoppin0 movements to which the moving parts are subjectedin the prac'li ':al ruiming of the nia-- chine l make this explanationbecause l wish it understood that my invention does not reside inproviding a dash pot as such,

but,I in discovering theicause of the previous uncertainties and errorsin the grade-marking results'v of the machine, and in discovering thatsaid uncertainties andv errors 'could be Ventirely eliminated simply byinterposing a strong friction de'vice in the train of transmissionmecl'ianism adjacent the grading end of ,the machine, operating toabsorb and take up the suddcn'shock and thereby prevent transmitting itto the 'marking wheel. As the ratchet wheel 3l is suddenly movedcontra-clockwise by its pull in response tothechanging position of theI:teeler mechanism, the shaft 30 and sector 32 are given a correspondingsudden impulse which is received and held against modification by thefirm frictional resistance oli the friction device*58 so that,notwithstanding the momentum oft' the swinging sector 46, rotary markingwheel o1- die 44, and the return inflnence of the spring 43 andinfluence of the spring 127, etc., thevarious parts of the gradingmechanism simply move forward vthe exact distance required by saidforward movement of the ratchet wheel il andnot the slightest distancemore, so that when the marking die or wheelxis tripped, the required dienumber is in truly vertical position and not anl adjacent improper dienumber, and

what is of still greater consequence, the die wheel is still and notimperceptibly chattering or trembling with a rotary vibration as before.

The lower roll which servesto hold up the stock against the gage roll 42to be skivedby the skiving knife 61 is also mounted in sliding bearings62 and is yieldingly supported as in my previous machindbut instead ofbeing supportedby springslocated at the ends of the roll under thejournal bearings thereof, I secure to said journal bearings a yoke 63which extends beneath the roll 60, and mount the supporting springs 65much closer together .than before, as clearly'shown in Fig. 3, saidsprings engaging said yoke as nearly as practicable .be-

rolls, the lower ends of the springs -being supported adjustably in anysuitable manner, as by bolts 66 adjustable in a cross bar 67 fast on theframe of the machine, and the opposite ends of the yoke and hence of theroll 60 being adjustably limited in their up-v ward movement by bolts orlinks 68 passingthrough said cross bar, beneath which are nuts 69. Byhaving the 4springs 65 thus l0- cated under the work, they always keepthe roll against the stock even though the variations in relativethickness between-the opposite edges of the 'stock should be extreme.The great importance and value'of this part of my invention will bebetter understood if it is borne in mind that by this means theliability of improperskiving and the frequent destruction of' theexpensive sole leather by the skiving knife, 1s absolutely prevented.When the lea-ther is not held tightly at all places throughout its widthagainst the gage roll 42 the skiving knife'Y tends', especially when it'is set too far back,

to draw down the slack leather away from the i roll i-2 Vas. far as itcan, thereby making false cuts or gouging out the leather. When thesprings 65- are placed wide apart, as beneath Y`neath the path where theedges vof the work will pass when traveling .between the two the journalbearings 62, the entrance of stock with a. thick edge operates todepress that 'end ot' the `roll by swinging it on the remote springsupport at the opposite end as a fulcrum. for center, with the resultthat the dii vergence orangle of the lower roll with reference to the u)er roll is eXceedinOl` sli L t 'inasmuch as it extend-s from theextreme journal end of spring support to thethick edge of the supposedpiece of stock, whereas when the spring is brought inwardly accord-Aing` to my present invention, approximately beneath the opposite ed e ofthe stock, the

pivotal movement or de ection of the lower nal end, but from the nearerposit-ion of the -roll takes place, not from the extreme jour-vtherefore cannot possibly draw down the leather at the thin edge andgouge it out as heretofore From a practical standpoint this change oflocation of the springs has beciijvden',onstrated to be an exceedinglyimportant and valuable feat-ure of the present machine` as itetteetually prevents improper skiving. it is to be borne in mind thatthe object of this portion of my machine is not so much .simply to skivcthe leather as it is io ski ve il even, a., its function as an eveningmachine is to make the leather absolutely i ci'cn with rciicrenee toadefinite control, and hence the evening means or evening mechanism,where that term is used in the claims, is to be understood asrcquirii'ig not merely a knife or other form of cutter for cutting awaythe surplus leather` and means for holding thc leather against saidknife or cutter. but means -for definitely controlling or limiting theposition of the leather to an unchangtaible distance from the knifewhile it is being cut. ln the particular cmbodin'ient of tbc inventionin the machine of the drawings, this definitely limiting holdingmechanism therefore includes the cam stops or stepped wedges .'l), -l-0.These stepped wedgeor 'inclines are responsive to the feeler mechanismfor their adjustment. I prefer to interposc` between these limitingelements of the evening mechanism and the cutting element of saidevening mechanism, the pressure roll or gage roll, which, being freelymovable within the limits set by the iiiniting wedges or linclines,applies a uniform pressure to the leather and accom- .,plishes thevarious additional functions of operating the gate. tripping the markingportion of the grading mechanism, and preventing the accidental escapeof stock from the machine without being graded in some way, 'ihe eveningmechanism which constitutesoiie form'of the grading mechanism, the otherform being the marking mecha- 'iiisml therefore, in the preferredembodiniient ot' the machine of the drawings, includes the knife, gageroll, and limiting wedges or icam stops mentioned. To prevent theskivings following the roll 60 I have pro- 'videfl grooves70 in the roll60, in which stripping iingers 71 extendv from therear face of the yoke63 `to which they are damped by aybir 7 2. A

Referring r inmto 'the grade-marking mechanisifn, the caiii ispositively rotated by a train of gears 73, 74, 75, 7th-the latter beingin the form of a spring clutch norforward by a spring mally impelled bya spring i7 to engage the clutch end 78 of a pinion 79 directly drivenby the main shaft 80, said clutch gear 7G being normally restrained by apivoted cam plate or combined stop device and restraining device Sl heldby a spring S2, all as in my last mentioned patent., but in the machineof my said patent, I have found in practice that there is a tendency ofJdie die to repeatits grade marking on the same piece of stockr` due tothe failure ofthe cam plate 8l to retract the clutch gear 7 6 at theproper moment, and accordingly in my present machine I have arranged adiii'erent mechanism for ctiectually stopping or preventing the die fromimproperly repeating its gradingu rThe cam plate S1 has a forwardportion S3 in which slides a latch 84 normally held downward by a spring85 in position to be engaged by a dog 86 pivoted at 87 to the frame andactuated by a link 8S extending upward` from a bar 89 pivoted at to theside of the frame and. connected at 91 to a rod 92 having a strap J3around the journal end of the upper 'oll 12. The latch Si is outwardlybent at its upper end to overhang the projecting end or finger 0G of alever 97 pivoted at 9S and extending in position to be tripped by a pin09 projecting from the pinion 7 3 which operates the dic-actuating cam52. By this mechanism, whenever the gage roll Li2 is raised by thepassage of a piece of stock, the dog So instantly swings the cam plateS1 out of restraining engagement with the. radially projecting roll a;of the clutch gear 76, thereby permitting the spring 77 to throw in theclutch and hence permitting the train of gears 76, 74, 73 to actuate themarking die for one marking, but as the gear 73 makes one revolution, asrequired for said one marking, its pin 99 .causes the lever 97 to raisethe latch 84 out of engagement with the dog SG, with the result thatinstantly the cam plate or stop device 8l is retracted by its spring 82,and the clutch gear is restored. to inoperative position so that the diewheel 44 'cannot operate a second time for the same piece of stock. Themarker per se has been divided out, to be claimed in a divisionalapplication.

The bar 89 is normally counterbalanced by a spring 100 and its forwardend carries a pivoted-lifting rod '101 normally held 102 in liftingengagement beneath a crank 103 for holding the gate 104 raised or openwhich controls the feeding of the stock to the machine. This Said gateis lifted' to permit the entrance of a fresh piece of stock eachtimethat the graded piece of stock passes from beneath the roll e2, theprevious raisinguof the roll 42 by the outgoing lstock having rockedlever 39 iso as to lower rod 101 whose spring izo .' 102 has thereuponpulled the rod 101 for V ward beneath the end of crank 103, ready Glithat the latter is depressed each time a piece of stock enters thevmachine and ymoves downward the roll 3 and feeler posts or detector rods17, 18 away from the roll 2. In front of the gate. I have placed alonger feed table than before, as herein indicated a't 107. and'haveprovided opposite length vguides 108 simultaneously adjusted towardand'from each other by a right. and left threaded screw 109 in orderthat the stock may always be entered straight into the machine and allthe pieces in the same path.

1 ly this means uniformity of grading with .mOVe

relation to the edgesof the stock is secured by passmg the edges ofsuccessive pieces always over the feeler mechanism in precisely the same'relation to the center thereof.

In my before mentioned Patent No. 1,046,213, means for centering thestock was provided, but in spite of said means the stock could swingaround and vary its position, and hence vary the 'grading to someextent, whereas by havingthe 'elongated parallel guides andexten'dedtable the feeding is compelled to be central over theentire length ofeach piece of stock. Pivoted to the `gate 104 is a link 110 foroperating a locking dog 111 normally held down by a spring-112', andoperating, when the gate 104 falls, to engage the teeth 113 and therebylock the locking wheel 31 so as to prevent further transmission ofthinness measurement as determined by the feeler mechanism. Theoppositely extending teeth 114 of the ratchet wheel 31 are located tobe'engaged by a pawl 1 15 pivoted at 116and normally into engagingposition by a spring 117 when released by a rod 1118 extending from' anarm 119 projecting rigidly ,from a shaft 120 at whose opposite end is arod .121 on which is adjustably mounted a foot or shoe 122 to be engagedby the forward end of the stock as it is fed throughythe machine, saidengagement with the forward end of the stock serving to rock the 'shaft120, raising the rod 118 so as to release the pawl 115 and cause itslower end to engage the teeth 114 of the ratchet 4wheel 31 andthereafter permit -said locking wheel to be moved by the transmissionlever 22 only in a direction corresponding to successive increments ofthinness detected by the feeler mechanism. The position of'said shoe orfoot 122 thus determines the given point in the length of the stockvfrom which the feeler Aates with a feed' chain 1.24 in facilitating thefeeding of the stock from the feeler feed rolls to. the gage rollandskiving mecha"- nism, heilig held yieldingly by springs 125' and bolts120 at its opposite .ends. The transmission plate 22 is delicatelyadjusted. by a spring 127 and thumb screw 128 in the end ofv a bracket129 mounted for conve`nience on the lower endof the screw 15. Because ofthe slotted construction 27 and the arrangement of the ,adjacent partsof the transmission mechanism, it will he seen that as soon as a pieceof stock has passed out of engagementwith the lower feed roll or feeler'device 3, said roll and its vconnected 'parts are at once automaticallyrestored by the spring 14 to work-receiving position, but thegrade-settmg mechanism is maintained set by the ratchet Wheel 31 actingas a lock- I 'ing wheel until the Work has 'bee1rg1ademarked and.skived, whereupon these parts are automatically restored to normal'position. In other words, as soon as the stock has been measured or itsrelative thickness and thinnessA determined y by the feeler mechanism,said feeler .mechanism is -au'- tomatically restored to normal `positionindependently of the grademarking and skiving mechanisms. which remainset until they in turn have performed their functions. By thusrendering, to a degrec, these various mechanisms independent ofeachother, and sub-dividing the mover' ments of the machine, the gagevroll and the rest of the grading mechanism at the rear end of themachine is relievfed of the strain or undue work brought upon it by themechanism of my former machines, and particularly of my beforementionedPatent No. 1,046,213, in which the tension spring at the frontend of the machine' held all the parts under continuoustens'ionfrom theentrance of the stock into the machine until it left the machine. In mypresent invention, the corresponding spring- 14 is-independent of therest of the mechanism, so far as transmitting thereto any strainsis`concerned, and

,the forward portion of said remaining mechanism is not required toremain.under strain after the performance of its functions,but isrestored to normalpositionvbe I. fore that portion of saidremainingmechanis'm which is at vthe rear end of the machine hasfinished performing its functions. This provision conduces materially tothe delicacy 80 from which a train-of gears 132, 13` 'l 134, 135,136,137 positivelyfdriy es the feed incassa rolls 2, 3, the gears 136, 137having specially formed long teeth, see liig. 1, in order to permit ofthe relative vertical movementI of said rolls without interfering withthe positive and even driving movement. rl`he under roll is positivelydriven by a gear 138 in mesh with the gear 132, and the gage roll a2 isdriven by a gear 139 in mesh with the gear 79, and the driving` chain1211 is driven by a sprocket chain 140 passing over a sprocket Wheel 141on the rear driving shaft 142 of said sprocket chain 124, and over asprocket wheel 143 on the shaft of the lower roll 60.

A further feature of importance resides in providing additional meansfor materially decreasing the pressure on the stock when it is first putinto the machine and for decreasing the resistance of the initialmovements of the grading mechanism, said means, although capable ot'various embodiments, being herein shown as consisting ot' a bolt 1424held by a check nut 1915 adjustable in a cross piece 146 at ythe rearend of the machine in line with the rear end ot the rack bar 34 so thatthe head 147 ol" said bolt positively limits the rearward niovementtofsaid rack bar, see Fig. 4. By this means, in addition to the otherfunctions just mentioned, the parts of the machine may be set so as toprevent grading below any desired minimum measurement. By screwing thebolt outward or forward the rack bar is prevent ed from movingsuiliciently rearward when the machine is at rest tovpermit the camstops or stepped inclines, 39, 40, coming in contact, and hence, thelatter being ont of contact when the stock is put in the machine, theinitial starting movement is free and without the drag and tendency tostick or cling to each other which. would be the case if said inclineswere lett in contact with each other.

The operation of the machine has already been quite fully set forth, andmay be briefly summarized as follows: The gate 104 being in its normalupraised position, the operator inserts the leather piece between thepositioning devices or length guides 103 so that its leading end willengage between the rollsv 2, 3. This operates to separate the rolls, z'.c. to lower the feeler roll 3 and thereby permit the-lever 22, under theinfluence of its spring `127, to rotate the ratchet wheel 31 clockwise adistance corresponding with the extent to which the leather piece hasthus separated the rolls 2 and 3. The leather piece is fed rearward inthe machine by the rolls 2, 3, and as its leading end strikes the tripor foot 122, the latterI is raised, 1and thereby, through the parts 121,120, 119, 118, 115, and 117, brings the pawl' 115 into enagement withthe teeth 114 of the ratchet wheel 31 (whicli,as just pointed out, hasalready, been turned sufficientlyv there-tor by engagement of the liftercam lment with the dog 86 so -as the entrance or tne stock between therolls 2, 3). As the leather piece now continues to travel rearwardbetween said rolls, 1f a thicker spot is met with, the rolls separatebut without influencing the ratchet wheel 31, inasmuch as the pawl 115and teeth 114C prevent any movementin this direction, z'. e. in responseto increases in thickness. If, on the other hand, a thin spot is metwith, the lever 22'is instantly pulled upwardly by whichever feeler post17, 18 is vertically beneath said thin spot, and the ratchet wheel 31 iscorrespondingly rotated contra-clockwise the distance of one or moreteeth as required for properly measuring said thin spot. When theleather piece has traveled niitting 4the gate 104. to tall, the latter,through the connection 110, causes the pawl 111 to engage the lockingteeth 113 of theA ratchet wheel 31 in opposition to the engagement otthe teeth 114 by the pawl 115, so that said ratchet wheel cannotthereafter move. in either direction until after 'the leather 'piece hasbeen marked. Meanwhile -the contraclockwise turning of the ratchet wheel31, as it has successively taken up or measured the successiveincrements of thinness oi the leather piece, has correspondingly set.the evening and marking mechanisms through the train of parts 30, 32,33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 50, Z16, and lVhen the leading end of theleather piece reaches the rolls 42, 60, it enters between them andinstantly raises the roll 42, thereby, through the parts 93, 92, 39, 3S,and 86, disengaging the cam plate 31 trom the roll ai of the clutch gearwhose spring 77 then instantly slides said gear to the left, Fig, 5a,into driven engage:4 ment with the member 78 of the gear '79.` Thiscauses the train of gearsI 70,75, 741, and 73 to rotate, the latterserving to rotate the lifter cam 52 over to the left Fig. 1, therebyreleasing the plunger 53 of the head 49, which instantly falls under theinfluence-of, the springs 51, and is instantly raised bythe;

52 with the.` lower end .of the plunger But in the instant A that thehead 119 tell,J it thereby caused the markingwheel tito mark the topside ot the leather piece with the grade mark to which said markingwheel had been set (just prior to the skiving of the leather piece b vthe knife 61); The marker is instantly raised and stopped by itsactuating mechanism, including the roll. or pin'99, which engages thelett hand end of the lever 97, Fig. 5, and 4thereby raises theoverhangingvend 95 ot' the latch 3l out ot engage-l to permit the spring82 to swing the cam plate 81 back into engaging relation with member 70,which cam plate\serves to retract the clutch `member 'and Stop furthermovement ot' the actuating mechthe clutch its length into the machine,thereby peranisin of thev marker. The leather piece,

"The weight of the feeler mechanismis rel movements of the machine andthe strains of moved from the stock and extreme delicacy provided bythe' counterbalancing mechanism. The two rolls 2, 3 also coperate tofeed the stock by direct engagement and positive rotation on its top andbottom sides coincident with the point of feeling engage- ,ment And byhaving those portions of the transmitting. mechanism which are at thefron*U of the machine capable of operating separately from thoseportions at the .back of the machine, greater delicacy is secured, theformer being automatically restored to work-receiving position as soonas the work has been measured and prior to the stamping and skiving ofthe same, whereby the their Weight and momentum, etc., are subdivided sothat no one part has to bear the entire strain. ,Besidesthe foregoingfeatures of advantage, I regard as likewise important the provision ofthe pressure springs directly under the work at the point of skiving andthe provision of means for preventing chattering and false movements andmeans lfor preventing Jlost motion or uncertainty ,of transmission, andso likewise the provision of the regulator 12 at the extreme front 'ofthe machine.

-Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is: i

1. In a machine of the" kind described,

selectiveumeansefor determining the thinnest ofa, numberA of thin spotsin a given area of a lleatherl piece, including feeler mecha- 'nismlocated .to engagel said piece/on its un'der side. s

2. r-In a machine of the kind described,- grading mechanism containingmeans capable of.being set, including means engaging .the top side of apiece-of stock, thinness determining'mechanism, including feeler meansmovab'ly mounted to engage the under side of said piece of stock, andintervening mechanism for getting said grading mechanism in accordancewith the determination selected from among a number of the feelingoperationsgof'said feeler mechanism.

' 3. A machine of the kind described, com-J prising mechanism forgrading the leather,

,said mechanism including a part Ahaving aregulated movement,autoi'iiaticv means for regulating the movement of said part-acnoszscacording to the thickness of the leather being graded, said automaticmeans including a stepped Wedge whose inclined surface is movable intoposition between said part and the supporting frame thereof, and meansin po sition beneath the plane of the leather when being graded toengage the under side of said' leather, 4responsive to unevennesses inthe leather, for governing the position of said wedge.

4. In a machine of 'the' kind described, positively driven upper andlower feed rolls, one of said rolls being independently'movable at itsopposite ends toward and from the other to constitute a feeler device,and feeler determination transmission ,means connected to said movablerollat a plurality of separated places v.and responsive to saidindependent movements of the opi'- posite ends of said roll to transmitthe feeling determinations of said feeler device.

5. In a machine of the kind described,l

positively driven upper and lower feed rolls, the lower of said rollsbeing independent-ly movable. atits opposite ends toward and from theother to constitute a feeler device andfeelcr-deterin-inationtransmission means connected to said movable rolfat a plurality of separated plafces and responsive to'said independentvmovements of the opposite ends ofsaid roll to transmit the feelingdetermina-tions of said feeler device.

G. In a machine of the kind described, grading mechanism located at therear end of the machine, feeier mechanism located at the frontend of themachine, and interven` ingmechanism for connecting the other tivoAmechanisms and feeding the stock, the mechanism at. the front endincluding positively driven upper andlower feed rolls for positivelyfeeding the stock by direct feeding engagement'with both its top andbottom, said rolls being located to engage the stock at the criticalpoint where the feeling or measuring is taking place.

7. in a machine of the kind described, grading mechanism located at therear. end of the machine, feeler mechanism located at the front end ofthe machine, 4and intervening mechanism for connecting the other twomechanisms and feeding the stock, the mechanism at the front endincluding positively driven upper and .lower feed rolls for positivelyfeeding the stock by direct.

feeding engagement with both its top and bottom, said rolls beinglocated to engage the .stock at the critical point, where the feelingormeasuring is taking place, and

said intervening mechanism including a.

longitudinally movable feed device operatingto engage the stock as itpasses from bc- I' tween said feed rolls and to move said stockvrearwardlj," toivaid the grading mechanism.

8. gli'i' a machine the kind described,

selective means for determining the thiniiol so for a useful purpose,land a pressure balanc- A nest of a number of thin s pots in a given areaof a leather piece, including engaging means to ,engage the top side ofsaid leather piece, means for supporting said engaging means positivelyindependently of the leather piece, whereby the weight thereof isprevented from comingv on the leather` piece when the leather is in themachine, movable means located to engage said leather piece on its underside, said movable means being responsive to the varying thicknesses oflthe leather piece, grading mechanism, 'and means to set said gradingvmechanism to grade the leather piece in accordance with said thinnest-spot felt of 'by the rfeeler mechanism, p

9. In a machine of the kind described, selective means for determining,the thinnest lof a number of thin spots in a. given area of a leatherpiece, grading mechanism responsive to said selective means 'for grad- Ying the stock, and means to prevent the grading of the stock below'a.predetermined minimum measurement. y 10. In a machine of the kinddescribed,

means toengage one side of a piece of stock,.

transversely extending feeler means to engage the opposite side ofthepiece ofstock;

transmitting mechanism to transmit the feeling deterniinationsv of saidfeeler means iiig spring engaging the center of said feeler means topressl the same toward the stock, said spring being mountedindependently of said transmitting ,niech'anisni. 4,

11. In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism'located toengage and feel of the under side of a pieceof stock, includ-v ingupwardly pressing spring counterbal ancing means, and transmittingmechanism to transmit the feeling determinations of said feelermechanism for a useful purpose.

12. In a machine of the kind described, a

l yieldingly mounted feeler roll engaging the under side of apiece ofstock, transmitting mechanism for transmitting the determinations ofsaid roll, and a pressure spring mounted independently of saidtransmitting mechanism pressing upwardly on said roll.

13. In a machine of the Akind described, a yieldiiigly mounted feelerroll, a bridge eX- 'teiiding lengthwise of said roll and bearing on theopposite ends thereof, a pressure spring bearing against Athe middle ofsaid bridge to holdlsaid roll againstthe stock, and means for usefullytransmitting the feeling determinations of the feeler roll.

14.. In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism, gradingmechanism,and means actuated by the feeler mechanism for transmittingthe determinations of the feeler mechanism to a part of thegrading-mecha# nism and .correspondingly moving said part,

-including mtz'hanism permit-ting the auto-1 matic restoration of thefeeler mechanism to normal position while still maintainingv the gradingmechanism set4 to operate on the stock. i Y

15. In a machine of the kind described,

mechanism to detect a 'thin place iii a leather piece, gradingmechanism, connecting inec'hanisin between the detecting mechanism andgrading mechanism responsive to .the detecting mechanism and actuatedthereby,

and means permitting the dissimultaneous e restoration of the detectingmechanism and the grading mechanism to their normal operative positions.

16. In a machine of the kind described, means to detect a thin place'in4 a leather piece, grading mechanism, setting means for .setting saidgrading mechanism in `accordance with the determinations of saiddetect-- ing means and actuated by and in connection with said detectingmeans, including means for locking said grading mechanism as set butpermitting the autnmatic restoration of the detecting .means to normalposition.

17. In a machine of the kind described, means to feel a thin place in aleather piece, grading mechanism, and intervening mechanisin for'transmitting to the grading mech- V means, and momentuni-retardingmeans to' prevent the rebound of said grading mechanism when set by saidsetting mechanism.

,19. In a machine of the kind described, means to detect a thin place ina leather piece, grading mechanism', setting means to .set said gradingmechanism in accordance with 'the determinations of said detectingmeansl, and a dash pot to prevent falsevmoyes of said setting mechanismand grading mechanism. a

20. In a machine of the kind described, grading mechanism, feelermechanism .for

'controlling said grading mechanism with 'reference to the stock feltof, and a regu-v lator, located at the front ofthe machinein positionfor direct and instant control by the operator when heis in positioirtofeed -the stock to the machine, for 4regulating-at the front of themachine the predetermined difference ldesired iii actual thickness ofstock from .that `determined by the grading .mechanism under themechanism.

.said control-,of thenteeler 21. In a machine of thc kind described,grading mechanism, teeler mechanism for controlling saidgradingmechanism with reference to the stock felt ot, and a reguL later,located at the front ot the machine, including' an angular handadjusting shaft extending transversely across the front of the machinein position to be grasped by the operator when he is in position to-teed the stock to the machine, for regulating at "the front of themachine the predetermined difference desired in actual thickness `ofstock from that determined by'the grading mechanism under the saidcontrol of the feeler mechanism. 1

22. In a machine of the kind described, grading mechanism, including askiving knife, feeler 4mechanism for controlling said grading mechanismwith reference to the stock felt ot', and a regulator, located at thefront of the machine, for regulating the proportionate amount ofskivings removed. from the stock with relation to the determinationsofthe feeler mechanism. y

23. InV a machine of the kind described, means to engage one side of apiece ot' stock, feeler mechanism to engage the vopposite side of thepiece of stock, grading mecha nism responsive to said feeler mechanismincluding means to select one only of a num ber of feeling movements,and a regulator operating directly on said engagingmeans to adjust saidengaging means to vary the thickness of the stock with reference towhich the feeler mechanism operates.

2li. In a machine of the kind described, opposite feed rolls to receivebetween them a piece of stock, one of said feed rolls be- .ing freelymovableindependently at its op posite ends to constitute a feelerdevice, grading mechanismresponsive to said :move-A ments to grade thepiece, and regulatingr means operating directly on the other. of

said t'eed rolls to adjust it at will toward and from the feeler rollfor varying the thickness of the stock with reference to which thefeeling takes place.

25. In a machine of the kind described, opposite feed rolls to receivebetween them a piece of stock, one of said feed rolls being freely'movable independently at its opposite ends to constitute a feelerdevice, grading mechanism lresponsive to said movements, and adjustingscrews located respectively at the opposite ends o't the other o't saidvtecd rolls :tor moving said roll bodily in parallelism'to itself, saidscrews bein;` provided with Worm wheels, and a 4regulator bar iixedlymounted in the frame of the. ina- ,chine and provided at its oppositeends with worms for simultaneously rotating said -worm wheel.

26. In a machine ol the kind described,l

thinness determining means, grading mechanism responsive thereto, andintervening transmitting. mechanism, including a locking wheel, paavlsto engage and lock said wheelon its opposite sides, tripping means atthe ingoing end of the machine actuated by the passage of the rear endof a piece of stock to said thinness determining means to actuate one ofsaid pawls, and tripping means inthe path of the front end of said stockto actuate the other of said pawls.

27. In a machine of the kind described, 'thinness determining means,grading mechanism responsive thereto, andv intervening transmittingmechanism, including a lock ing wheel, tripping meansto lock the same, asegmental rack movable with said wheel, a rack bar engaging said rack,and setting means operated by said rack to set said grading means.

28. In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism to 4engage apiece of stock and determine its thin places with reference l to itslongitudinal edges, and guiding means commensurate with the length otthe Stock for supporting yand guiding the stock at its edges anddirecting it in actual alinement with and at the center of said feelermechas nism.l

29. In a machine of the kind described,

grading mechanism, including a skiving` knife, a gage member fordetermining the thickness to which the stock is to be skived, anopposite pressure member for holding the stock irmly against said gagemember, and opposite pressure springs 4located inwardly from theopposite ends of said pressure member respectively 'between the middiethereotI and the adjacent end substantially the distance apart of thewidth4 of a usual shoe-sole and in approximately vertical alincment withthe edges of the stock being skived.

30. In a machine of the kind described, a vertically movable gage roll,a coperating skivingknife, an .opposite pressure roll,

intermediate compression springs locatedrespectively between the middleand the adjacent end oi said pressure roll,feeler mechanism, andautomatically adjustable means for said gage roll controlled by saidfeeler mechanism.

3l. In a machine of the kind described, a

trip at its other end for opening said gate,

Lost/,eas

and connections with said feeler mechanism for effecting the closing ofsaid gate.

32. In a machine ot the class described,

33. In a machineof the class described,

the combination' of adjustable receiving rollers, a cutter,adjustableregulating rollers cooperating with the cutter, an adjustablestop, and means whereby the insertion ot the material to be cut betweenthe receiving rollers will set the stop to limit the adjustment of oneot" the regulating rollers.

34. A machine of the kind described, comprising mechanism tor. gradingthe leather, said mechanism including a part having a regulatedmovement, automatic means for regulating the movement of said partaccording to the thickness of the leather being ited, and includingcoperating stepped wedges relatively movable into cooperative positionbetween said part and the supporting frame, and means correlated withthe frame and the wedges Afor preventing said wedges from comingtogether when at rest .and stcck is not being graded.

, 35. In'a machine of the class described, the combination ofgradingmechanism, iiicluding an ,adjustable stop for regulating saidgrading, means responsive to the thickness of the material to be gradedfor setting 4said stop, and means for maintaining said stop out ofcontact with the stopped part of the machine when at rest, whereby thestarting adjustment of said stop is not hindered by such' contact. l

36. In a machine of the class described, the `combination of gradingmechanism, includingan adjustable stop and movable means stopped therebyfor regulating said grading, means responsive to the thickness of thematerial to be graded for setting said stop, and adjustable means formaintaining said stop and said movable means normally out of contactwith each other.

37. In a machine of the class described, the combination ofpressure-applying feeler mechanism for engaging the stock underpressure, grading mechanism for grading the stock according to thethinnest portion so pressed, and means coperating with said feelermechanism for increasing the pressure fon the stock after the stock isirst engaged.

vby the eeler mechanism.

' 38. A machine of the, class described, hav- 'ing, in combination, asupport against which a piece of stock may be pressed, a plurality odetectors, means for causing said stock to be gripped between saiddetectors and support with an increasing pressure, and grading means torgrading the stock according to the thickness of the thinnest portion sogripped. I

8S). In a machine of the class described, the combinationof'pressure-applying feeler mechanism for engaging the stock underpressure, grading mechanism, mechanism for transmitting thedeterminations of said leeler mechanism to said grading mechanism, saidtransmitting mechanism operating to increase said pressure on the stockwhen a leather piece is being JJtelt of by said feeler mechanism, andmeans for relieving said feele'r mechanism of said increased pressurewhen the stock is first engaged by the feeler mechanism.

40; In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair ofreceiving rollers, one ot' which is movably supported, a cutter, a pairof regulating rollers, one of which is movably supported, a stop, anoperative connection between the stop andthe movably -supportedreceiving roller, whereby tlie insertion' ot the material between thereceiving rollers will set the stop, and means operatively related tothe movably supported regulating roller and adapted to engage the stopas the material passes between the regulating rollers to limit themovement of said regulating roller.v

v 4l. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a pair of receiving rollers, one of -which is movablysupported, a cutter, a pair of regulating rollers, one'of which ismovably supported, a graduated stop, an operative connection' betweenthe stop and the movably supported receiving roller whereby theinsertion of the material between the receiving rollers will set thestop, and means operatively related to the movably supported regulatingroller and adapted to engage the stop as the material passes between theregulating rollers to limit tne movement of said regulating roller.

42. In a machine of the class described, the combination of receivingrollers, one ot' which is adjustable, a cutter, movably supportedregulating rollers cooperating with the cutter, said receiving andregulating rollers being spaced trom each other, means tor directing thematerial from the receiving to the regulating rollersf-and means'independent of the regulating rollers whereby the thickness of themateriaal inserted between the receiving rollers will, (by means of thesaid adjustment of the receiving roller) correspondingly limit theadjustment of oneof the regulating rollers.

43. In a machine of the class described,A the combination of apair ofreceiving rollers, one of which.is movably supported a cutter',\regulating rollers coperating with the cutter, one `of which is movablysup-' )orted a sto a ie'ldin'ff connection between Q a y m the movablysupported receiving roller and the stop, said stop being adapted to beset by the insertion of the material between the receivingrollers, andmeans operatively related to the movably supportedregulating rolleradapted to engage the stop when said roller is adj usted by the passageof theV material between said regula-ting rollers.

44. In a machine ,of the class described` the combination ofreceiving'rollers, one of which is movably sl'xj. ported, a cutter,reguating rollers, one oli which is also movably supported, theadjustmentot said receiving.

roller being regulated by the thickness ot' the material insert-ed, andmeans operated by said adjustment for coi-respondugly limitingv theadjustment of 'the movably snpported regulating roller.

45. In a machine ol the class described, the combination of receivingrollers, one of which is a'djustably supported, a cutter, regulatingrollers, one ot` which is also adjustably supported, a gradiilated stop,means opera-tively relatedv to the adjustable `regulating roller adaptedto engage the stop i'or limiting the adjustment oaf said roller, meansoperatively related to the stop and theadjustable receiving roller forautomatically 46. In a maehineof the kind-described,v

means against. which a piece of stock may be gripped, opposite detectingmeans coperating therewith to grip apiece of stock Which is to begraded, including a plurality `of eeier posts having separate individualVmovement in the direction of said first-inen-4 tioned means, gradingmeans, and eonnec tions between said grading means and said posts forsetting said grading means With reference to the latter, including adevice in which the Lvests are freely movable in a direction away fromsaid first mentioned said iirst mentionedw means. 1

ln testimony Wliereot, I have signed my name to this specification, 1nthe presence of I two subscribing Witnesses.

ELMER P. NICHOLS. lVi t-nesses Pnnorjlll. BmDoEs, Snsmy A. FRANCIS.

CII

4means and'whose position is controlled and determined by that 'postwhich 1s nearest f

